Westport LL Drops Extra-Inning Thriller To California, 6-3

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Westport was just two outs from advancing to the U.S. championship game. Chula Vista, Calif., however, had other plans.

Chula Vista rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game at three, and Grant Holman hit a three-run home run to right-center field in the ninth to lead the West champions to a 6-3 win over Westport on Wednesday night and clinch a berth in the national title game before 21,763 at Lamade Stadium.

"It's disappointing, of course, to lose," said Westport manager Tim Rogers. "It's painful to be so close to winning and then lose but obviously they're a real talented team. There's no holes in their lineup whatsoever."

It was the first loss of the summer for Westport, which entered Wednesday night's game with a 20-0 record. Not all is lost, however, as the New England champions can stave off elimination Thursday night against Sammamish, Wash., a team they defeated 9-7 on Sunday. A win would set up a rematch with Chula Vista in the U.S. championship game Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

"At some point, you're going to lose," Rogers said. "It'd be rare not to. ... I expect them to battle back and shake it off and come out tomorrow night and give it their all. That doesn't mean we're going to win, but I would expect them to be competitive tomorrow for sure."

Westport was two outs away from advancing after Harry Azadian struck out Holman to lead off the top of the sixth inning. In the next at-bat, Nick Mora homered to center field for his second solo home run of the night, cutting Westport's lead to one run. Rogers pulled Azadian in favor of Max Popken, who walked the next three batters, loading the bases.

"Our plan was if there were two outs and nobody on, we would've let [Azadian] go," Rogers said. "When the last kid hit the home run, you're one run away, and we would've really second-guessed ourselves if someone else got into one and tied it and we would've blown Harry for tomorrow."

"I was a little surprised, I figured they'd go for the throat and try to put us into the loser's bracket," said Chula Vista manager Rick Tibbett.

With Kevin Bateman II at the plate, Michael Gaines scored from third on a passed ball by catcher Matt Stone to tie the game.

After a Charlie Roof deep fly out to start the bottom of the seventh, two Westport runners reached base, only to be left stranded.

In the top of the eighth, Giancarlo Cortez hit a leadoff double, but was stranded at third. Westport was retired in order in the eighth.

The next half inning, Chula Vista broke through to take the lead. Micah Pietila-Wiggs singled with one out. Jake Espinoza doubled to set up Holman's three-run home run.

"I had a pretty slow start at the beginning of the game and all I wanted to do was hit it hard and drive in one of those runs," said Holman, who was 1-5.

Rennard Williams, who earned the win pitching 21/3 scoreless innings of relief, forced Drew Rogers to ground into a double play to end the game.

"The last play of the game, Drew hit that one hard, and hit it so hard that it's a double play," Rogers said. "It was one of those nights."

Both teams used four pitchers. Holman, who threw a no-hitter in a 3-0 win over Grosse Pointe, Mich., on Friday, threw 32/3 innings, allowing three runs and striking out 10. Westport got to Holman in the fourth. Popken walked to lead off the inning. With one out, Azadian singled to right field, advancing Popken to second, who was then relieved by special pinch runner Christopher Drbal. With two outs, Matt Brown drove a 2-2 pitch from Holman over the right field wall for a three-run home run, ending Holman's night.

"He came up big," Rogers said. "I think that was a little bit of a hanging curveball and he's strong as anyone so when he gets good solid contact, it's going to go."

Chad Knight started on the mound, pitching 41/3 innings, allowing one run and striking out nine batters before Azadian relieved him after 53 pitches. Azadian threw one inning, allowing one run. Alex Reiner relieved Popken after Gaines scored, and pitched 32/3 innings but picked up the loss.

"[Alex's] just got a lot of guts," Rogers said. "He's got a lot of heart, he doesn't get rattled. He just does what he's asked to do."

The Chula Vista bullpen didn't allow a run. Ricky Tibbett came in for Holman and threw 22/3 innings, allowing no hits and two walks. Cortez allowed two hits in just one-third of an inning, but Williams was there to stop the rally.